Monkey Backpack...

Half-pint is what I call a "runner". He is always running, especially when I don't want him to. He runs ahead of me when we leave a public building (i.e. the grocery store, library, church, pretty much everywhere...) and he runs from me while we are shopping (i.e. a few isles over at the grocery store or mega-mart...).

Not only is he a runner, but he also is a good climber. He is a true monkey. Recently we were at the grocery store and he wanted to climb into the blue race car shopping cart. He did it in four simple steps-he used the cement anchor for a handicapped parking space sign, then he climbed into one "regular" shopping cart, then into the race car basket and then finally into seat of the race car.

"What are you doing?"

"I climb! I a monkey!"

"Yes, you are a little monkey!"

We went to the zoo this past week. We have installed a new tradition, especially at the zoo...it's the monkey backpack. Half-pint has a monkey backpack with a tail that's about 2-3 feet long-with a loop handle on the end. He MUST wear the monkey backpack while we are at the zoo, especially if we are there without other family (i.e. Grandma, Aunts, Uncles...). He actually loves his monkey backpack. Yes, he knows that when he wears it he is tethered and leashed. We get all kinds of looks from everyone else at the zoo. Kids think it's awful and parents think it's great!